Pitch Auction & Portfolio Showcase

Attendees are invited to submit 1-2 real pitches to be read aloud by the host anonymously during the Saturday night Pitch Auction. Faculty members will raise paddles to indicate "likes". If a faculty member "likes" your pitch, that means they want to hear more, and you are invited to submit your manuscript according to the guidelines provided in the Post-Event Submission Opportunities. During the Auction, attendees will raise paddles, too, to show their support and enthusiasm for the pitches.

Just for fun, attendees are also invited to submit #CookiePitches, a silly or "punny" pitch for a fake children's book. #CookiePitches will also be read aloud by the host during the Pitch Auction.

#CookiePitch is a game of "best pitches for worst ideas" developed by a group of kidlit creators just for fun. Your #CookiePitch can be any genre, not just PB. 

To enter, simply check the Pitch Auction option during registration and you'll receive a link to the submission form. Find this link under the MY EVENTS tab of your SCBWI Member Home. Look for the green MEETING INFO button.

Deadline to enter the Pitch Auction: September 1st, 2025

Anyone attending the Fall Retreat is invited to enter your portfolio. Simply check the Portfolio Showcase box during registration and drop-off your work before dinner on Saturday, Sept 20th, 5:30 pm – 6 pm. Please pick your work up by 9:00 pm.

Guidelines

DO NOT include original art—the portfolios are meant to be handled and will be displayed during the evening social hour when food and drink may be present. Accidents happen! Display all work in a portfolio with plastic sleeves for protection.

Max size: 18” x 24” and thickness when closed 3”. Remember: your goal is to illustrate for children’s publishing, where the standard page size is 9” x 11”. If you have work that must be seen larger than that to be appreciated, it probably won’t be successful for the market. Most artists work at 150% to 200% of the finished size—if you do, that’s fine, but reduce your portfolio copies to the intended print size before displaying.

Identify yourself! Each page or image should include your name and contact information (email or web URL). Your portfolio MUST include your name and contact information in order to be displayed.

Limit portfolios to 10 images. You can find excellent resources online and in books about children’s publishing to help guide your selection of the types of images to include. The basic rule is to include your very best work and the work you want to be hired to do. Otherwise, please do consider your market. Don’t include “mature” subject matter, anything that would require content warnings, or still lifes, no matter how lovely. You are not only representing your skill, you are representing your point of view and your ability to carry a story.

• You may include a book dummy. Your dummy MUST be attached in some way to your portfolio. A ribbon sewn or glued into the binding and taped or glued securely to your portfolio works well.
• You may choose ONE takeaway to accompany your portfolio like a business card, postcard, or bookmark. NO easels, cardholders, or printed books will be allowed.

Portfolio Showcase Policy

By signing up to participate in the Portfolio Showcase, I agree that the submission of the portfolio is solely my responsibility and I hereby assume all risk of loss, theft, damage, destruction, delay and misdirection. I hereby represent and warrant that I am the sole owner of the portfolio and all copyrights therein and the portfolio does not infringe upon the rights of any third party or entity.